Record number of medical graduates return for intern roles
Pictured are Monash graduates and new doctors, from left, Tom Walsh, Elisabeth Hatzistavrou, Sharon Johnson, Ruth Briggs, Andrew Thomas, Sarah Wilmot, Derek Pol, Danielle Winkelman, Shane Robbins and Steph Pong.
Monash School of Rural Health graduates have flocked to the Gippsland intern program in 2013.
All ten of this year’s intake to the Gippsland Regional Intern Training (GRIT) program are Monash graduates and seven of those already have a close association with the area, having undertaken much of their training through the School of Rural Health’s Gippsland Regional Clinical School, East Gippsland Regional Clinical School and were enrolled at the Gippsland Medical School at Churchill.
Those seven include Derek Pol, Sarah Wilmot, Andrew Thomas, Danielle Winkelman, Sharon Johnson, Shane Robbins and Ruth Briggs. The other three new interns are Tom Walsh, Steph Pong and Elisabeth Hatzistavrou, who completed their MBBS at Monash Clayton.
Seven former students returning as interns is a record for the Monash University School of Rural Health.
Acting Director of the Gippsland Regional Clinical School, Associate Professor Elmer Villanueva, said having a large number of former students remain in Gippsland to start their medical careers was a wonderful outcome for the Monash University School of Rural Health program in Gippsland and for the local hospitals that are part of the Gippsland Regional Intern Training program.
“One of the reasons for running the Monash University medical training programs in regions like Gippsland is to encourage medical graduates to consider practising in the local area at some stage of their careers. Having seven of the ten places on the GRIT program filled by graduates who have undertaken a large part of their studies in Gippsland is encouraging for our program, and also indicates the esteem in which local hospitals are held by students.”
One of interns, Sharon Johnson, was attracted back by her experience as a student and because she feels at home in the region.
“My experience in Gippsland has been very rewarding, and I feel that I have been well-supported throughout my training by both administrative and clinical staff. What has been most encouraging to me in my studies is the kindness and generosity of the patients who have allowed me to be a part of their care and to learn so much,” she said.
Another 2013 intern, Shane Robbins, studied at the Traralgon campus at LRH in Year 3B, then Warragul in Year 4C and had two placements at Sale Hospital in Year 5D.
“All of the placements had friendly administrative staff who provided great support. The programs were well structured – there was plenty of time spent with doctors on the wards and in tutorials,” he said.
Another of the graduates, Dr Sarah Wilmot, is a Paynesville resident who entered the graduate-entry program at Gippsland Medical School after a career as a dietician at the Bairnsdale Hospital. Sarah has undertaken the majority of her student training at Sale and Bairnsdale, and is delighted to be accepted into the GRIT program, and continue her training close to home.
Associate Professor Dr David Campbell, Director of the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School, said that Dr Wilmot’s experience is a good example of the opportunities provided by the East Gippsland Regional Clinical School for local community members to undertake medical and nursing training in East Gippsland.
In first year the intern group undertakes five rotations in order to gain full medical registration while developing essential skills and knowledge.
Rotations available to the students include Anaesthetics at Latrobe Regional Hospital, Emergency (Core) Latrobe Regional Hospital, Emergency (Non-Core) West Gippsland Hospital, General Practice at Heyfield Medical Centre, Medicine at Latrobe Regional Hospital and Central Gippsland Health Service in Sale, Oncology Latrobe Regional Hospital, Orthopaedics (Core Surgery) Latrobe Regional Hospital and Surgery West Gippsland Health Service.